Ore jig



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ORE JIG Filed Feb. 14, -1950 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 BY my@ Jan. 4, 1955 E. voN BoLHAR ORE J IG Imi mln-Humm 5 Sheets-Sheet 3 Filed Feb. 14, 1950 A IN VEN TOR.

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Tram/fr Jan. 4, 1955 E. vcN BOLHAR ORE J IG 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 Filed Feb. 14, 1950 United States Patent O ORE JIG Edgar von Bolliar, Sausalito, Calif., assgnor to Yuba Manufacturing Company, San Francisco, Calif., a corporation of California Application February 14, 1950, Serial No. 144,156

3 Claims. (Cl. 209-457) My invention relates to means for recovering the values from ore which has been reduced to a relatively small size or from placer material which has been screened orseparated so that there remains an intermixture of valuable particles and other particles to be discarded.

In separating values from unwanted material it is customary to rely upon the different specific gravities of the substances and to subject them as a heterogeneous mass to the action of water in a container, the water being pulsed or agitated in such a way that the heavier, valuable particles tend to fall by gravity through the water to a point of collection at the bottom of the container, whereas the lighter, non-valuable particles are maintained adjacent the top of the container and are carried along or washed out of the container.

Many different forms of ore jigs have been constructed and utilized and in general provide satisfaction although the vibration attendant upon the necessary agitation of the water is extremely destructive to the machinery. Also the cost of manufacture is often large and the degree of operating supervision and the amount of maintenance required become excessive.

It is therefore an object of my invention to provide an ore jig to separate the values satisfactorily from the unwanted material.

Another object of the invention is to provide a generally improved ore jig. n

A still further object of the invention is to provide an ore jig in which the vibratory forces are so distributed and controlled as to minimize their deleterious eiects.

A still further object of the invention is to provide an ore jig effective to be utilized with little or no supervision.

A still further object of the invention is to provide an ore jig well adapted for use in multiple, or in banks, in large installations.

A still further object of the invention is to provide an ore jig in which the individual parts are simple and rugged and can readily be repaired and maintained or replaced in the eld without utilizing or requiring skilled help or special equipment.

Other objects, together with the foregoing, are attained in the forms of my invention described in the accompanying description and illustrated in the accompanying drawings in which:

Figure l is a plan of an ore jig installation in accordance with my invention.

Figure 2 is a front elevation of the structure illustrated in Figure 1. A

Figure 3 is a modified form of structure comparable to that shown in Figure l.

Figure 4 is a rear elevation of a part of an ore jig.

Figure 5 is a cross section on vertical planes and to an enlarged scale, the planes of cross section being indicated by the line 5 5 of Figure l.

Figure 6 is a plan, with the drive box cover removed, of the driving portion of my ore jig, some parts being in cross section.

Figure 7 is a cross section to an enlarged scale of the structure shown in Figure 6, the plane of section being indicated by the line 7-7 of Figure 6.

Figure 8 is a longitudinal cross section, to the same scale as Figure 7, showing the drive structure.

In its preferred form, the ore jig of my invention is especially useful in connection with the recovery of'values, such as gold, usually in the form of s mall particles or nuggets from an accompanying material such as sand ICC or line earth or gravel. An example is the recovery of gold occurring in heterogeneous earth mixture by the placer process of dredging. While the ore jig of my invention can readily be installed in any convenient location for handling the material to be separated, they are conveniently installed on board the hull ofa dredge which initially recovers the native placer material.

In such an exemplary installation, it is usual to provide a large number of jigs in a battery or series or bank and such series or bank is made up of .a number of individual units enough of which are illustrated herein for descriptive purposes. In such an installation there is provided a framework 6 made up of the customary structural shapes to provide a substantially rectangular platform. Supported on the platform are two pairs of hutches. The iirst pair of hutches 7 and 8 are disposed alongside each other in a substantially reversed symmetry in axial alignment whereas the second pair of hutches 9 and 10 are similarly disposed alongside the first pair. Since the pairs of hutches are substantially identical except for some of the surrounding structure, a description of one of them applies equally to the other.

Erected on the framework 6 are plates 11, 12, 13 and 14 together defining vertical, rectangularly disposed side walls of the hutch 7. These walls are open at the top but about the center of the hutch are joined by a bale wall 15 and by other walls 16 of an inclined disposition to lead into a downwardly diminishing sump 17 terminating in an outlet valve 18. A hand operator for valve 18 normally is set to the desired opening in order to perrrit continuous discharge of the settled valuable materia.

In a somewhat similar arrangement, although with reverse symmetry, the hutch 8 is bounded by the common wall 13 and by extensions of the walls 11 and 12 and likewise by a vertical end wall 21 to form a rectangular upper portion. The lower part of the hutch is defined by inclined walls 22 arranged in mirror symmetry with the walls 16. The walls 22 provide a sump 23 leading to a hand valve 24 comparable to the valve 18.

The hutches provide two chambers in line on the framework 6, open at the top and arranged with reverse symmetry and with their two outer walls`14 and 21 substantially vertical. Material is dropped from a conveyor 26, such as a sluice, and is discharged at a suitable elevation onto a shot bed 27 covering the entire upper portion of the hutch 8. The shot bed is made up of a removable, reticulated grid 28 having a heavy mesh screen 29 spanning the mid portion thereof to support a layer of loose shot. The grid 28 rests upon ledges 30 extending from the interior walls of a removable frame 31 and is held removably in position by rotatable wedges 32 connected by pivots 33 to the frame 31. The frame is supported on ledges 34 on the side walls 11 and 12.

Similarly, the hutch 7 is provided with a shot bed 35 in a grid 36 located in substantially the same general orientation as the shot bed 27 but slightly lower. The grid 36 is retained against ledges 37 by wedges 38 connected by pivots 39 to a frame wall 40. An overflow launder 41 is provided by a lip in the wall 14 at an elevation somewhat less than that of the inlet 26.

Both of the hutches 7 and 8 are supplied with water, not only that which accompanies the materials entering through the conveyor 26 but also an additional amount introduced through suitable pipes 42 leading to inlet tubes 43 extending into the mid point of the various hutches. When an appropriate quantity of water has been introduced into the hutches and when the material to be separated is introduced through the conveyor 26, the water contained in the hutches is appropriately agitated.

To effectuate the agitation, the vertical, outside wall 14 of the hutch 7, for example, is interrupted by a circular orice 44 surrounded by a ange 45. A semitoroidal, flexible diaphragm ring 46, suitably fabricated of rubber, is clamped around the ange 45 by a securing band 47. The inner portion of the ring 46 is similarly clamped by a band 48 onto a peripheral flange 49 of a dished, central diaphragm 50. This diaphragm 50 is substantially rigid and is mounted for oscillation or reciprocation along its horizontal axis 51. Adjacent its center, the diaphragm is connected by a detachable junction 52 to the reciprocating ram or plunger 53 of a driving unit 54 mounted on the framework 6. When operated the driving unit is effective to propel the junction 52 and correspondingly the diaphragm 50, the motion being accomplished without leakage between the diaphragm and the vertical wall 14 by virtue of the flexible, toroidal sealing member 46.

ln a comparable fashion, the hutch 8 is provided with a similar diaphragm 56 disposed in its vertical outside wall 21. A liexible, semi-toroidal closure ring 57 spans the joint between the diaphragm and the wall. The central portion of the diaphragm S6 has a mounting hub 58 extended to provide a transverse journal 59 in which a pivot shaft is disposed for connecting the journal to a substantially vertical rocker arm 61. At its lower end, the rocker arm is pivoted on a shaft 62 supported in brackets 63 extended from any suitable part of the framework 6; for example, from the lower part of the hutch 8. The length of the rocker arm 61 with respect to the axial motion of the diaphragm 56 is such 'that the diaphragm partakes approximately of a linear reciprocation. There is a slight arcuate component to the motion, but it is readily accommodated by the flexible ring 57.

In order that the diaphragm 56 may be driven in synchronism with the diaphragm 50, I provide the connector 52 with a yoke 64 constituted by a contoured channel member extending transversely of the structure and rigidly held with respect to the diaphragm 50. its outer ends are arched over the semi-toroidal ring 46 and receive fastenings 66 for ties 67 and 68. These are preferably made up of inner rods and outer tubes extending in a generally horizontal plane alongside of the diminished, lower portion of the hutches 7 and S, the yoke 64 extending laterally a suicient distance for that purpose. At their other end, the ties 57 and S8 are secured to a comparable yoke 69 made fast to the mounting hub 5S of the diaphragm 56.

Because of this arrangement, when the driving unit S4 is energized to reciprocate the diaphragm 50, it simultaneously reciprocates the yoke 64 and the ties 67 and 68 and correspondingly reciprocates the yoke 69 and the diaphragm 56. Since the diaphragms are supported at one end by the connection to the drive unit 54 and at the other end by the rocker arm 61 and since they are tied together by the members 67 and 68, they operate in unison and as a single mechanical element, each imparting rigidity and strength to the other without involving excessive weight. These vibrating parts of the structure are tied rigidly together for protracted use but are insulated from much of the remaining part of the structure by the flexible rings 46 and S7. Since the hutches 7 and 8 face in opposite directions, or are disposed in opposite symmetry, the motion in one direction of the diaphragm 50, although accompanied by motion in the same direction of the diaphragm 56, produces an effect in the hutch 7 opposite to that produced at the same time in the hutch 8.

In operation, when the hutches 7 and 8 have been filled with water through the tubes 43, material to be separated is continuously discharged from the conveyor 26, some of it settling onto the shot bed 27 and the remainder settling on the shot bed 35. The level of water over the shot beds is maintained at a substantially set height by reason of the overow lip or launder 41. When the drive unit 54 is energized, the diaphragms 50 and 56 are simultaneously actuated so that the volume of the hutch 7 is decreased simultaneously with an increase in thc volume of the hutch 8. The hutches do not intercommunicate hydraulically except at the very top. The diaphragm motion lifts the body of water in the hutch 7 and the resulting tlow of water lifts and separates the shot in the shot bed 35 simultaneously permitting the heavy, valuable material to settle through the shot bed into the hutch 7 and eventually into the sump 18. The lighter, valueless material does not settle nearly as fast. It is prevented from settling into the hutch to any appreciable extent because driving unit 54 is timed to reverse sufficiently fast so that, upon an outward movement of the diaphragm 50, the water level in the hutch 7 falls and the shot bed 35 again settles and closes to preclude any entry of material to the sump. The hutch 8 operates similarly except that when the water level 1n the hutch 7 rises, that in the hutch 8 falls and vice versa. t

Since the operation of the hutch 7 1s 1n the opposne sense to the operation of the hutch 8, the opposltely operating columns of water in the two hutches tend to equalize the total load on the diaphragms 50 and 56. Since those diaphragms are rigidly connected together, the ultimate load on the driving unit 54 is approximately equalized, there being two principal impulses per revolution of the operating unit 54.

ln order partially to balance the mentioned impulses and even more to smooth out the drive load, the hutches 9 and 10 substantially identical in all particulars with the hutches 7 and 8 are operated parallel thereto. They are similarly driven by a drive unit 71 connected to the drive unit 54 by a shaft 72 extended to a drive motor 73 coupled through a speed reducing unit 74. The hutches 9 and 10 impose two main impulses per revolution on the drive unit 71. They are timed to be taken by the drive motor 73 at equal intervals between the impulses from the drive unit 54. The drive shaft 72 and the units 54 and 71 are connected in such a way that these impulses are substantially evenly spaced at quarters of a revolution apart. Since the interconnections between the hutches 7 and 8 are substantially rigid and the interconnections between the hutches 9 and 10 are substantially rigid and since the two drive units 54 and 71 are rigidly connected by the shaft 72, the drive motor 73 has a nearly uniform load despite the various pulsations in the several hutches. The operation of the structure is therefore quite uniform, the residual vibration transmitted elsewhere is reduced to a small value and the mechanism is readily operated at a relatively high speed even aboard a dredge.

In one modification, a double ended drive motor 76 (Figure 3) is disposed between the drive units 54 and 71 and dispenses with the separate drive shaft 72 and the overhung motor 73. The motor '76 is connected to a pair of speed reducers 77 and 78 so that it performs the function not only of driving but also of transmitting forces back and forth between the drive units 54 and 71, in this fashion also producing a balanced and even driving effort.

The drive units 54 and 71 are conveniently constructed as illustrated particularly in Figures 6, 7 and 8. Mounted on the framework 6 is a housing 101, suitably secured by fastenings 102, and including not only a central chamber but also having a pair of extension cases 103 and 104 removably secured thereto by fastenings 106. A removable cover 107 completes the enclosure. Within the extensions 103 and 104 are suitable bearing sleeves 108 and 109. The sleeve 108 is closed in by an end cap 111 vlhile the sleeve 109 is confined behind a lubricant seal Adapted to reciprocate in the aligned bearing sleeves 108 and 109 is a ram 113 or plunger. This preferably is comprised of a single body having a cylindrical boss 114 at one end to run in the sleeve 108 and a somewhat comparable cylindrical boss 116 at the other end to operate in the sleeve 109. The boss 116 is contoured to receive a flanged adapter 117 secured by screws 118 in position to engage the junction 52 of the diaphragm 50, for example. Between the bosses 114 and 116, the ram 114 is enlarged and contoured to provide a substantially rectangular, hollow box defined by end walls 119 and 121 as well as by side walls 122 and 123. The side walls are both pierced to provide elongated slots 124 and 125 therein.

The side walls of the housing 101 are extended by bosses 127 and 128 each of which receives a self aligning antifriction bearing 129 serving to support the adjacent portion 131 of the drive shaft 72. The drive shaft itself is straight and continues through the bearings and through the slots 124 and 125 to the interior of the boxlike central portion of the ram 113. Within that region the shaft 131 is provided with a key 132 engaging a central hub 133 also held in place by a set screw 134. The hub 133 is eccentric with respect to the shaft 131 and around its eccentric periphery carries an outer hub 136` the eccentricity of which, with respect to the hub 133, is in substantially an equivalent amount. in one rotated position of the hub 136, its outer bearing surface 137 is substantially concentric with the axis of the shaft 131 but a half turn from such position the eccentricity of the inner hub 133 and of the outer hub 136 is accumulated or added and the outer bearing surface 137 then has a maximum eccentricity with regard to the axis of the shaft 131.

In order that the outer hub 136 can be positioned and held in any of several desired rotated locations with respect to the inner hub to establish the eccentricity desired, the hub 133 has a marginal flange 138 at intervals provided with radial notches 139. The outer hub 136 likewise has a peripheral flange 141 in which a setscrew 142 is disposed. A lock screw 143 prevents accidental dislodgement of the set screw 142. If the set screw is backed off so that it does not engage any of the notches 139, the two eccentrics can be rotated into any desired position and the set screw 141 can then be advanced until it engages firmly in a subjacent adjusting notch 139, thus holding the parts in a set relationship.

Located on the outer periphery of the outer hub 136 is an anti-friction bearing 151 held in place by suitable locking rings 152 and 153 in an eccentric strap 154 forming part of a pitman 156. The other end of the pitman surrounds an antifriction bearing 157 encompassing a wrist pin 158 spanning and journalled in the boss 116. With this structure, when the shaft 131 is rotated, after the inner hub 133 and the outer hub 136 have been adjusted and set for-the desired eccentricity, the anti-friction bearing 151 transmits the rotary movement of the combined eccentrics to the eccentric strap 154 and thus operates the pitman 156 to impart a reciprocation or oscillation to the ram or plunger 113. The length of the stroke of the ram 113 and its accompanying parts is readily changed by altering the relative position of the inner and outer eccentrics.

In order to preclude misalignment, about the axis of oscillation of the plunger 113 and to prevent binding of the wrist pin 157 and of the main, anti-friction bearing 151, the sides of the plunger 113 are enlarged at either side to provide lands 159 rubbing against similar lands 161 formed inside the housing 101. Preferably, the lands 159 are made separate and detachable from the main oscillating body so that if worn they can readily be removed.

Since the ore jig is intended for operation over protracted periods with little or no operator supervision and since the pulsating load on the rotary driving mechanism is rather severe, I provide means for ensuring copious lubrication of the parts of the driving unit within the housing 111. To that end, the lower part of the housing 111 serves as an oil sump and is provided with a normally closed drain plug 176. Oil in the sump is held at an appropriate level established by an overflow port 177.

An oil disc 178 secured for rotation with the outer eccentric 136. Being itself eccentric under normal conditions of operation, the oil disc 178 while usually not leaving the surface of the liquid, dips well into the oil once per revolution. The oil disc has a vertical oscillating motion, as it rotates, with respect to an oil scraper trough 179 spanning the interior of the housing 101 between a head oil channel 181 and an oil passageway 182. The trough 179 slopes down at its ends so that oil lifted from the sump by the disc 178 is scraped off of the disc and is deposited in the trough 179 to flow not only into the channel 181 but also into the passageway 182. From the passageway 182 the oil ows through a suitable port 183 to lubricate the bearing sleeve 108 as the hub 114 oscillates in it. Any surplus oil is returned directly to the sump within the casing 101 either from the end of the bearing or through the hollow interior of the hub 114.

Oil flowing from the upper end of the trough 179 into the cross channel 181 has a choice of paths. The dimensions of the oil passageways are such that the oil simultaneously ows into the several conduits. The oil travelling around the upper end of the channel 181, as seen in Figure 6, ows through a channel 184 into a port 186 leading to the bearing 127 so that the bearing is supplied copiously with lubricant. Oil travelling from the other end of the channel 181 ows into a passageway 186 and then by gravity through a port 188 to lubricate the anti-friction bearing 128. Some of the oil in the 6 channel 181 falls through a hole 189 into a pocket 191. Part of it passes through an opening 192 and falls through a periodically registering subjacent opening 193 directly on to the pitman 156 to flow over and to lubricate the bearing 158. Other oil from the pocket 191 flows through an opening 194 to the bearing sleeve 109. Excess oil from the bearing sleeve drops from one end thereof into the sump or drops from the other end thereof into a return passageway 196 included in the end cap 104 for returning the oil to the sump.

The described arrangement of an ore jig provides a largely enclosed driving mechanism effective to operate fully lubricated over long periods of time without danger of contaminating with oil any of the ore being treated yet affording a suitable drive effective to handle the various impulses from the pulsating water bodies so that the forces are largely offset and so that the resultant forces are imposed upon the drive motor in an even fashion. The linking together of the oppositely operating diaphragms provides a rigid structure braced well within itself and effective to balance the forces of one column of water against those of an oppositely operated column. The rubber rings isolate much of the normally destructive vibration and many of the parts are interchangeable and caidreadily be replaced or repaired, if necessary, in the I claim:

1. In combination, a frame, a pair of hutches on said frame having parallel sides and oppositely disposed exterior vertical faces remote from each other and having openings therethrough, movable diaphragms disposed in said openings, yokes connected to said diaphragms, end portions on said yokes extending laterally beyond said sides of said hutches, parallel rigid ties extending outside of and alongside said sides of said hutches and secured to the end portions of said yokes, and a power driving unit connected to one of said yokes to reciprocate the same.

2. In combination, a frame, a pair of hutches on said frame having sides and oppositely disposed external vertical walls remote from each other, each of said remote walls having an orifice therein, diaphragms in said orifices, flexible rings connecting said diaphragms and said walls, yokes mounted on said diaphragms and having end portions extending laterally beyond the sides of said hutches, a pair of ties extending along the outside of said hutches and connecting the end portions of the yokes on said diaphragms for movement in unison, a rocker arm pivotally connected to one of said yokes and said frame for supporting one of said diaphragms on said frame, and a driving unit on said frame connected to the other of said yokes for supporting the other of said diaphragms on said frame and for reciprocating the same.

3. In combination, a frame, a hutch on said frame having an orifice therein, a housing on said frame in line with said orifice, a drive shaft journalled in said housing, bearing sleeves in said housing at right angles to and on opposite sides of said drive shaft, a hollow ram extending across said drive shaft and mounted for reciprocation in said bearing sleeves, a variable eccentric on said drive shaft, a pitman partly disposed within said hollow ram and connecting said variable eccentric to said ram, and a dilitihragm mounted on said ram and disposed in said or ce.

References Cited in the le of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,039,613 Storsand L May l5, 1936 2,070,069 Ruoss Feb. 9, 1937 2,238,338 Moir Apr. 15, 1941 2,311,414 Peterson Feb. 16, 1943 2,416,450 Macaulay Feb. 25, 1947 

